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Updated: June 20, 2025
He was once more reading over the letter to the Company, relative to the bear, when Mynheer Kloots made his appearance, and informed him in a few words that they were in a situation of peculiar danger, and that in all probability the ship would be in pieces in less than half an hour.
"We are full three degrees to the northward of the Cape," observed Mynheer Kloots, after he had computed his latitude. "The currents must be running strong; the wind is going down fast, and we shall have a change, if I mistake not."
The boats were down, and the ship's head had been turned round from the land: but it was now quite dark and nothing was to be seen but the white line of foam created by the breakers as they dashed with an awful noise against the shore. "Mynheer Kloots, if you please, I'll leave the ship directly.
With a simultaneous impulse, everyone directed his eyes to the spot where the strange vision had last been seen; and all was a dead, dead calm. Since the apparition, the pilot, Schriften, had remained on the poop; he now gradually approached Mynheer Kloots, and looking round, said "Mynheer Kloots, as pilot of this vessel, I tell you that you must prepare for very bad weather."
"Nay, nay; I cannot throw overboard an animal that I hold in much affection, Mynheer Von Stroom; but he shall not trouble you." "Then, Captain Kloots, you will have to deal with the Company, to whom I shall represent the affair. Your charter will be cancelled, and your freight-money will be forfeited."
"Well!" observed Mynheer Kloots, wiping his forehead, which was damp with perspiration, "I have been told of this before, but I have mocked at the narration." Philip made no reply. Aware of the reality of the vision, and how deeply it interested him, he felt as if he were a guilty person. The moon had now risen above the clouds, and was pouring her mild pale light over the slumbering ocean.
The bear, Johannes, was not confined, and therefore Mynheer Von Stroom confined himself; hardly a day passed that he did not look over a letter which he had framed upon the subject, all ready to forward to the Company; and each time that he perused it he made some alteration, which he considered would give additional force to his complaint, and would prove still more injurious to the interests of Captain Kloots.
"Mynheer Kloots, what is the meaning of this disrespect to the supercargo of the puissant Company?" "God in Heaven! no disrespect, Mynheer; the animal is a bear, as you see; he is very tame, even with strangers. He belongs to me. I have had him since he was three months old. It was all a mistake.
Let my boat come alongside I must have the largest boat for the Honourable Company's service for the papers and myself." "I'm afraid not, Mynheer Von Stroom," replied Kloots; "our boats will hardly hold the men as it is, and every man's life is as valuable to himself as yours is to you." "But, Mynheer, I am the Company's supercargo. I order you I will have one refuse if you dare."
This new adventure was the topic of the day, for it was again a dead calm, and the ship lay motionless on the glassy wave. "The sun looks red as he sinks," observed Hillebrant to the captain, who with Philip was standing on the poop; "we shall have wind before to-morrow, if I mistake not." "I am of your opinion," replied Mynheer Kloots.
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